Methods and devices for multi-link device (MLD) address discovery in a wireless network

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and devices for transmitting or receiving beacon frames and probe response frames that include MAC addresses of a multi-link device (MLD) operating on multiple links in a wireless network. For example, the beacon frames and probe response frames can include an MLD MAC address that uniquely identifies an AP MLD in a wireless network, and can optionally include one or more WM MAC addresses of STAs of the AP MLD. The MAC addresses can be used to by wireless devices (e.g., STA MLDs) to connect to and associate with the AP MLD, and can be used to generate a password element used during authentication between wireless devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 63/021,709, with filing date May 8, 2020,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field ofwireless communications. More specifically, embodiments of the presentinvention relate to systems and methods for address discovery in awireless communication network.

BACKGROUND

Modern electronic devices typically send and receive data with otherelectronic devices wirelessly using Wi-Fi, and many of these devices are“dual band” or multi-link devices (MLD) that include at least twowireless transceivers capable of operating in different frequency bands,e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. In most cases, a wireless device willcommunicate over only a single band at a time. For example, older andlow-power devices, e.g., battery powered devices, often operate on the2.4 GHz band. Newer devices and devices that require greater bandwidthoften operate on the 5 GHz band. The availability of the 6 GHz band is arecent advancement and can provide higher performance, lower latency,and faster data rates.

In some cases, the use of a single band may not satisfy the bandwidthneeds of certain devices. Therefore, some developing approaches towireless communication increase communication bandwidth by operating onmultiple bands concurrently (technically called link aggregation ormulti-link operation). Multi-link operations can provide higher networkthroughput and improved network flexibility compared to traditionaltechniques for wireless communication.

In most cases a non-access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) will notenable all links at a given time to conserve power unless trafficrequirements are relatively high. A non-AP MLD may operate on differentchannels depending on channel conditions, such as traffic, channelcapabilities, bandwidth, etc, and may switch between the channels asnecessary. An MLD can monitor the different links and perform basicoperations, such as traffic indication and BSS parameter updates.However, existing approaches to network address discovery for wirelessnetworks are unable to uniquely identify multi-link devices or performlink setup over multiple wireless links simultaneously.

SUMMARY

What is needed is an approach to address discovery for multi-linkdevices that can be used to identify wireless access points forperforming authentication and association between devices, and that iscapable of being used to setup multiple wireless links at the same time.Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are drawn toelectronic systems in a wireless communication network capable oftransmitting or receiving beacon frames and probe response frames thatinclude medium access control (MAC) addresses of an MLD operating onmultiple links. The beacon frames and probe response frames can includean MLD MAC address that uniquely identifies an AP MLD in a wirelessnetwork, and can optionally include one or more wireless medium (WM) MACaddresses of wireless stations (STAs) of the AP MLD. The MAC addressescan be used to by wireless devices (e.g., STA MLDs) to connect to andassociate with the AP MLD, and to generate a password element usedduring authentication between wireless devices.

According to one embodiment, a method of discovering a multi-link device(MLD) on a wireless network is disclosed. The method includestransmitting a beacon frame for receipt by a wireless station (STA) MLD,wherein the beacon frame includes a MAC address of an AP MLD on thewireless network, generating a password element using a preconfiguredpassword and the MAC address of the AP MLD, and performingauthentication between the AP MLD and the STA MLD using the passwordelement.

According to some embodiments, the AP MLD includes a first transceiveroperating on a first wireless link and a second transceiver operating ona second wireless link, and wherein further the transmitting a beaconframe for receipt by a wireless station STA MLD is performed over thefirst wireless link and the performing authentication between the AP MLDand the STA MLD is performed over the second wireless link.

According to some embodiments, the method includes associating togetherthe AP MLD and the STA MLD according to the authenticating.

According to some embodiments, the beacon frame includes messageintegrity check (MIC) integrity protection, and the method includesassociating together the AP MLD with the WM MAC addresses of the AP MLD,and subsequent to the associating, transmitting a key used to generatethe MIC integrity protection to the STA MLD.

According to some embodiments, the AP MLD includes a plurality oftransceivers operating on a plurality of wireless links, and furtherincluding transmitting a plurality of beacon frames including the MACaddress of the AP MLD over the plurality of wireless links.

According to some embodiments, the MAC address of the AP MLD is an MLDMAC address of the AP MLD that identifies the AP MLD in the wirelessnetwork.

According to some embodiments, the AP MLD includes a plurality of STAsoperating on a plurality of wireless links, and the beacon frameincludes a plurality of WM MAC addresses for the plurality of STAs ofthe AP MLD.

According to some embodiments, the MAC address of the AP MLD is an MLDMAC address that identifies the AP MLD in the wireless network, and thegenerating a password element is performed using the MAC address of theAP MLD in combination with an MLD MAC address of the STA MLD.

According to some embodiments, the MAC address of the AP MLD is an MLDMAC address that identifies the AP MLD in the wireless network, and thegenerating a password element is performed using the MAC address of theAP MLD in combination with a WM MAC address of an STA of the STA MLD.

According to some embodiments, the MAC address of the AP MLD is a WM MACaddress of an STA of the AP MLD, and the generating a password elementis performed using the MAC address of the AP MLD in combination with aWM MAC address of an STA of the STA MLD.

According to another embodiment, a method of authenticating a multi-linkdevice (MLD) on a wireless network at an access point (AP) MLD isdisclosed. The method includes generating a password element using: apreconfigured password, a MAC address of the STA MLD, and a MAC addressof the AP MLD, and performing authentication between the AP MLD and theSTA MLD using the password element.

According to some embodiments, the AP MLD includes a first transceiveroperating on a first wireless link and a second transceiver operating ona second wireless link, and the performing authentication between the APMLD and the STA MLD is performed over the second wireless link.

According to some embodiments, the method includes associating togetherthe AP MLD with the STA MLD according to the authenticating.

According to some embodiments, performing authentication between the APMLD and the STA MLD includes at least one of the STA MLD transmitting acommit message of an authentication sequence, and the AP MLDtransmitting a confirm message of the authentication sequence.

According to some embodiments, the MAC address of the AP MLD is an MLDMAC address of the AP MLD that uniquely identifies the AP MLD in thewireless network.

According to some embodiments, the AP MLD includes a plurality of STAsoperating on a plurality of wireless links, the probe response frameincludes a plurality of WM MAC addresses of the plurality of STAs of theAP MLD, and the generating a password element is performed using atleast one of the WM MAC addresses of the plurality of STAs of the APMLD.

According to some embodiments, the MAC address of the AP MLD is an MLDMAC address that uniquely identifies the AP MLD in the wireless network,and a password element is generated using the MAC address of the AP MLDin combination with an MLD MAC address of the STA MLD.

According to some embodiments, the MAC address of the AP MLD is an MLDMAC address that uniquely identifies the AP MLD in the wireless network,and a password element is generated using the MAC address of the AP MLDin combination with a WM MAC address of an STA of the STA MLD.

According to some embodiments, the MAC address of the AP MLD is a WM MACaddress of an STA of the AP MLD, and a password element is generatedusing the MAC address of the AP MLD in combination with a WM MAC addressof an STA of the STA MLD.

According to a different embodiment, a wireless access point (AP)multi-link device (MLD) is disclosed including a first transceiveroperating on a first wireless link, a second transceiver operating on asecond wireless link, a memory for storing data, and a processoroperable to cause the first transceiver to transmit a beacon frame forreceipt by a wireless station (STA) MLD, where the beacon frame includesan MLD MAC address of the AP MLD, generate a password element using apreconfigured password and the MLD MAC address of the AP MLD, andperform authentication between the AP MLD and the STA over the secondwireless link using the password element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication systemincluding a multi-link cooperative AP and a multi-link cooperative STAaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless network includingmulti-link devices having three affiliated wireless STAs according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary non-AP STA MLD having threewireless STAs identified on corresponding wireless mediums using uniqueMAC addresses according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary computer implementedmulti-link setup procedure performed by multi-link devices according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary AP MLD having a uniqueMLD MAC address used for address discovery over three wireless links ina wireless network according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary computer implemented process forperforming address discovery to identify and associate with an AP MLD.The AP MLD transmits beacon frames including a MAC address of the AP MLDover one or more wireless link in a wireless network according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary computer implemented process forperforming address discovery to identify and associate with an AP MLD.The AP MLD transmits a probe response frame including a MAC address ofthe AP MLD over one or more wireless link in a wireless networkaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary computer implemented process forperforming address discovery to identify and associate with an AP MLD.An STA MLD receives a beacon frame or probe response frame including aMAC address of the AP MLD over one or more wireless link in a wirelessnetwork according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary computer systemplatform upon which embodiments of the present invention may beimplemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments. While thesubject matter will be described in conjunction with the alternativeembodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limitthe claimed subject matter to these embodiments. On the contrary, theclaimed subject matter is intended to cover alternative, modifications,and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope ofthe claimed subject matter as defined by the appended claims.

Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specificdetails are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe claimed subject matter. However, it will be recognized by oneskilled in the art that embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details or with equivalents thereof. In other instances,well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not beendescribed in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects and featuresof the subject matter.

Portions of the detailed description that follow are presented anddiscussed in terms of a method. Although steps and sequencing thereofare disclosed in a figure herein (e.g., FIGS. 6-8 ) describing theoperations of this method, such steps and sequencing are exemplary.Embodiments are well suited to performing various other steps orvariations of the steps recited in the flowchart of the figure herein,and in a sequence other than that depicted and described herein.

Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms ofprocedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolicrepresentations of operations on data bits that can be performed oncomputer memory. These descriptions and representations are the meansused by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectivelyconvey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Aprocedure, computer-executed step, logic block, process, etc., is here,and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps orinstructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiringphysical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though notnecessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magneticannounces capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, andotherwise manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient attimes, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to theseannounces as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms,numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout, discussions utilizingterms such as “accessing,” “configuring,” “setting,” “storing,”“transmitting,” “retransmitting,” “authenticating,” “identifying,”“requesting,” “reporting,” “determining,” or the like, refer to theaction and processes of a computer system, or similar electronicprocessors, computing device, that manipulates and transforms datarepresented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computersystem's registers and memories into other data similarly represented asphysical quantities within the computer system memories or registers orother such information storage, transmission or display devices.

Some embodiments may be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed byone or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modulesinclude routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc.that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Typically the functionality of the program modules may becombined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.

Novel Techniques for Multi-Link Device (MLD) Address Discovery in aWireless Network

As used herein, the term “EHT” refers generally to a recent generationof wireless communication (Wi-Fi) known as Extremely High Throughput(EHT) and is defined according to the IEEE 802.11be standards. The termstation (STA) refers generally to an electronic device capable ofsending and receiving data over Wi-Fi that is not operating as an accesspoint (AP). A multi-link device (MLD) such as an AP MLD or a non-AP MLDcan include several wireless stations for communicating over differentwireless links and/or for performing multi-link operations.

With regard to FIG. 1 , an exemplary wireless communication system 100including a multi-link cooperative AP 105 and a multi-link cooperativeSTA 155 is depicted according to embodiments of the present invention.The multi-link cooperative AP 105 includes a 5 GHz transceiver 110 and a2.4 GHz transceiver 115. The transceivers 110 and 115 of AP 105 exchangedata and information with cooperative management unit 120 thatcoordinates information sent and/or received by transceivers 110 and115.

Multi-link cooperative ST 155 includes a 5 GHz transceiver 160 and a 2.4GHz transceiver 165. Other types of transceivers that operate ondifferent bands, such as 6 GHz and above, can also be used by themulti-link cooperative STA 155 according to some embodiments of thepresent invention. Cooperative management unit 170 coordinatesinformation sent and received by transceivers 160 and 165 using 5 GHzband wireless communication and 2.4 GHz band wireless communication,respectively, although any well-known wireless communication band (e.g.,6 GHz) can be used. STA 155 transmitting frames using multiple bandssimultaneously can mitigate delay and improve peak throughput of STA155.

With regard to FIG. 2 , an exemplary wireless network 200 includingmulti-link devices 205 and 250 each having three affiliated wirelessSTAs is depicted according to embodiments of the present invention. MLD205 is configured as an AP MLD and includes affiliated AP STAs AP1(210), AP2 (215), and AP3 (220). Each affiliated AP STA is configured tocommunicate over a different wireless link (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6GHz) of a wireless network. MLD 250 is configured as a non-AP STA MLDand includes affiliated non-AP STAs STA1 (255), STA2 (260), and STA3(265). Each affiliated STA is configured to communicate over a differentwireless link (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz). In the example of FIG. 1, AP1 and STA1 communicate over Link 1 (230), AP2 and STA2 communicateover Link 2 (235), and AP3 and STA3 communicate over Link 3 (240). APMLD 205 and non-AP STA MLD 250 can perform multi-link operations usingthe available wireless links. Each STA and AP are associated with aunique MAC address in the wireless network. Further, AP MLD 205 andnon-AP STA MLD 250 are also associated with a unique MAC address (an“MLD MAC address”). According to embodiments of the present invention,the AP MLD and non-AP STA MLD can use the MLD MAC address to transmit,route and filter packets received wirelessly from other devices.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary MLD 300 having three wireless STAsidentified on corresponding wireless mediums using unique MAC addressesaccording to embodiments of the present invention. MLD 300 can beconfigured as a non-AP STA MLD or an AP STA MLD according toembodiments. MLD 300 is associated with a unique MLD MAC address used toidentify the non-AP STA MLD among many MLDs on a wireless network. TheMLD MAC address of MLD 300 can be provided during a multi-link setupprocedure as depicted in FIG. 4 . STA wireless medium (WM) MAC addressesare used for transmission on the corresponding wireless medium.

According to some embodiments, the MAC addresses of an AP can bediscovered by a wireless STA before association. In the example of FIG.3 , MLD 300 includes STA1 (305) operating on a 2.4 GHz wireless link,STA2 (310) operating on a 5 GHz wireless link, and STA3 (315) operatingon a 6 GHz wireless link. MLD 300 is associated with an MLD MAC addressthat uniquely identifies the MLD management entity for differentiatingbetween different MLDs on the wireless network. The respective MACaddresses of STA1 (305), STA2 (310), and STA3 (315) are used forwireless transmission on the corresponding wireless medium.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary computer implementedprocess 400 performed between an STA 405 and a wireless AP 410 forperforming discovery, authentication, and associated according toembodiments of the present invention. As depicted in FIG. 4 , STA 405initiates the wireless communication by transmitting a probe requestframe at step S450. At step S455, AP 410 transmits a probe responseframe response to the probe request frame transmitted in step S450including MAC addresses of AP 410. Next, authentication is performedbetween the devices using commit and confirm messages. In step S550,authentication sequence 1 is initiated by STA 405 transmitting anauthentication commit message. In step S555 AP 410 transmits anauthentication commit message of authentication sequence 1. In stepS560, authentication sequence 2 is initiated by STA 405 transmittinganother authentication commit message. In step S565 AP 410 alsotransmits another authentication commit message of authenticationsequence 1. During authentication sequence 1 and 2, PWE generation isperformed using one or more MAC addressees (e.g., an MLD MAC addressand/or WM MAC address) of STA 405 and/or AP 410.

Based on the authentication, at step S570, STA 405 can transmit anassociation request to AP 410, and AP 410 can accept the associationrequest by transmitting an association response frame in step S575.After association, a 4-way handshake is performed by exchanging messagesbetween STA 405 and AP 410 to generate encryption keys which can be usedto encrypt actual data sent over the wireless medium.

Novel Process for MLD Addressing and Discovery in a Wireless Network

Embodiments of the present invention provide novel methods and systemsfor discovering and associating wireless devices with an AP MLD. In theexample of FIG. 5 , wireless AP MLD 505 communicates over three wirelesslinks, and each wireless link is associated with a unique MAC address.Specifically, wireless AP MLD 505 has MAC address M1 for communicatingover Link 1, MAC address M2 for communicating over Link 2, and MACaddress M3 for communicating over Link 3. AP MLD 505 is also associatedwith its own unique MLD MAC address MLD MAC. In the example of FIG. 5 ,AP MLD 505 communicates with communicates with STA MLD 510 over wirelesslinks Link 1, Link 2, and Link 3, with STA MLD 515, over wireless linksLink 2, and Link 3, and with STA MLD 520 over wireless links Link 1 andLink 2 in wireless network 500 using addressing techniques disclosedherein according to embodiments of the present invention.

STA MLD 510, 515, and 520 can communicate with AP MLD 505 to performmulti-link operations over one or more available wireless links. STA MLD510 includes three wireless STAs that operate on wireless links Link 1,Link 2, and Link 3 (associated with MAC addresses M11, M12, and M13,respectively). STA MLD 515 and STA MLD 520 each include two wirelessSTAs for communicating over different wireless links and havingdifferent MAC addresses M22, M23, M31, and M32. Additional STA MLDs(e.g., STA_(n) MLD) can also be associated with AP MLD 505, and eachadditional STA MLD is associated with a unique MAC address, including aunique MLD MAC addresses.

For performing multi-link operations, an STA MLD first discovers anavailable AP MLD and performs a multi-link setup procedure to associatewith the discovered AP MLD. It is appreciated that an AP MLD can setupmultiple wireless links at the same time during the multi-link setupprocedure. According to some embodiments, AP MLDs transmit beacon framesthat include MAC addresses of the AP MLD, such as the MLD MAC address ofthe AP MLD (e.g., MLD_MAC of AP MLD 505). The beacon frames can betransmitted on all available wireless links of AP MLD 505simultaneously. According to other embodiments, the beacon frames arenot transmitted on all wireless links, and the beacon frames include allMAC addresses of the AP MLD (e.g., MLD_MAC, M1, M2, and M3). Similarly,an AP MLD can respond to a probe request frame transmitted by a wirelessSTA frame by transmitting a probe response frame that includes the MACaddresses of the AP MLD.

According to some embodiments, a wireless STA can transmit a proberequest frame that is received by the AP MLD on one channel (e.g., Link1), and the MAC addresses contained in the probe response framebroadcast by the AP MLD are used to associate with the AP MLD over adifferent wireless channel (e.g., Link 2 and/or Link 3). In this way, awireless STA listening to one wireless link can discover and associatewith the AP MLD over a different wireless link without having to switchchannels, which advantageously improves the efficiency and performanceof the wireless network. In the example of FIG. 5 , a probe requestframe received by AP MLD 505 over Link 1 at MAC address M1 can be usedto associate with STA MLD 1 over Link 2 (M2) and Link 3 (M3), and AP MLD505 can perform multi-link operations with STA MLD 1 over the Link 2 andLink 3 using the respective MAC addresses.

To associate with an AP MLD, a wireless STA performs authenticationusing a Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) authenticationprocedure. The wireless STA initiates the procedure when a peer isdiscovered using a beacon frame or a probe response frame. The PWE(password element) for performing SAE authentication can be calculatedusing a preconfigured password in combination with configurationinformation, such as a MAC address. According to some embodiments, theMLD MAC address of the STA MLD and/or the MLD MAC address of the AP MLDare used to calculate the PWE for SAE authentication in combination witha WM MAC address of the STA MLD or AP MLD.

The password seed for SAE password generation can be calculated usingthe formula: pwd-seed=H(MAX(MAC address 1, MAC address 2)∥MIN(MACaddress 1, MAC address 2), base∥counter), where base is thepreconfigured password and counter=1. The formula performs a hashfunction on the maximum of MAC address 1 and MAC address 2 concatenatedwith the minimum of MAC address 1 and MAC address 2, the preconfiguredpassword, and the counter value (1) to generate a fixed-length string.MAC address 1 and MAC address 2 can be the MAC address of a non-AP STAand the MAC address of an AP STA, for example.

For a multi-link device, Address 1 and Address 2 can be set to the MLDMAC address of the STA and the MLD MAC address of the AP. Someembodiments of the present invention use a WM MAC of the STA MLD and theMLD MAC address of the AP MLD, or a WM MAC address of the STA MLD and aWM MAC address of the AP, for setting the MAC address 1 and MAC address2 to calculate the PWE. For example, according to some embodiments, thepassword seed for SAE password generation can be calculated using theformula: pwd-seed=H(MAX(MLD_STAi, MLD_MAC)∥MIN(MLD_MAC, MLD_STAi,base∥counter), where STAi is a wireless STA of the STA MLD operating onlink i, and MLD_MAC is the MLD MAC address of the AP MLD. MLD_STAi canbe either the MLD MAC Address of the STA MLD or the WM MAC of the STAMLD operating on link i. When the AP's WM MAC is used, the STA MLD addsthe AP's WM MAC addresses to the authenticated TA addresses that it willreceive frames from for filtering purposes. According to otherembodiments, the password seed for SAE password generation whenperforming authentication between two STAs can be calculated using theformula:PWE=scalar-op(val,PT), withval=H(0_(n),MAX(STA-A-MAC,STA-B-MAC)∥MIN(STA-A-MAC,STA-B-MAC))val=val modulo(r−1)+1

According to some embodiments, an STA can associate with an AP MLDwithout verifying the message integrity check (MIC) of the beacon orprobe response frame transmitted by the AP MLD. Secure binding can beperformed by the AP MLD during discovery (e.g., between MLD_MAC andM_(i, i=1,k), where M_(i) is the MAC address of an STA operating on linki, and k is the number of available wireless links of the AP MLD), andthe integrity protection is later verified by the STA after receiving akey from the AP MLD. For example, the MLD_MAC and M_(i, i=1,k) addressescan be carried in beacon frame or a probe response frame with MIC(integrity protection), and the STA can verify the MIC after associatingwith the AP MLD and receiving the key which was used by the AP MLD togenerate the MIC. The STA can remain associated with the AP MLD if theMIC is verified successful; otherwise the STA walks away from the APMLD. The AP MLD MAC address can be unique within the wireless network orunique per the STAs.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary computer implemented process 600for automatically performing address discovery and password elementgeneration to authenticate an STA MLD with an AP MLD according toembodiments of the present invention.

At step 605, a beacon frame is transmitted by an AP MLD for receipt by awireless station (STA) MLD. Step 605 can include transmitting beaconframes over multiple wireless links simultaneously. The beacon framesinclude a MAC address of the AP MLD, such as an MLD MAC address thatuniquely identifies the AP MLD in the wireless network. The beaconframes can also include one or more WM MAC addresses associated with APSTAs of the AP MLD that communicate over the wireless network.

At step 610, a password element is generated using a preconfiguredpassword in combination with any of the MAC addresses of the AP MLDincluded in the beacon frame transmitted in step 605. According to someembodiments, the AP MLD and STA MLD perform authentication over awireless link that is different than the wireless link used to transmitthe beacon frame in step 605. According to some embodiments, the AP MLDand STA MLD perform authentication over multiple wireless links in step610.

At step 615, authentication is performed between the AP MLD and the STAMLD using the password element generated in step 610. Steps 610 and 615can be repeated and performed without performing discovery if thecorresponding device has previously been discovered and the results havebeen stored in a cache, for example.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary computer implemented process 700for performing address discovery and password element generation toauthenticate an AP MLD with an STA MLD according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

At step 705, a probe request frame is received from an STA MLD.

At step 710, a probe response frame is transmitted for receipt by theSTA MLD responsive to the probe request frame received in step 705. Theprobe response frame includes a MAC address of the AP MLD, such as anMLD MAC address that uniquely identifies the AP MLD in the wirelessnetwork. The probe response frame can also include one or more WM MACaddresses associated with STAs of the AP MLD that communicate over thewireless network.

At step 715, a password element is generated using a preconfiguredpassword in combination with the MAC address of the AP MLD. The passwordelement may be generated during an authentication process between theSTA MLD and the AP MLD. For example, the password element can begenerated upon receipt of a commit message of an authentication sequenceas depicted above in FIG. 4 .

At step 720, authentication is completed between the AP MLD and the STAMLD using the password element generated in step 715. The authenticationmay be performed by transmitting a confirm message of an authenticationsequence in response to receipt of a commit message of the sameauthentication sequence as depicted above in FIG. 4 . Multipleauthentication sequences can be performed before authentication betweenthe AP MLD and the STA MLD is complete. According to some embodiments,the AP MLD and STA MLD perform authentication over a wireless link thatis different than the wireless link used to transmit the probe responseframe in step 710. According to some embodiments, the AP MLD and STA MLDperform authentication over multiple wireless links simultaneously instep 720. Steps 715 and 720 can be repeated and performed withoutperforming discovery if the corresponding device has previously beendiscovered and the results have been stored in a cache, for example.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary computer implemented process 800for performing address discovery to identify and associate with an APMLD according to embodiments of the present invention.

At step 805, an STA MLD receives a beacon frame or a probe responseframe over one or more wireless link in a wireless network. The beaconframe or probe response frame includes a MAC address of an AP MLD, suchas an MLD MAC address that uniquely identifies the AP MLD in thewireless network. The beacon or probe response frame can also includeone or more WM MAC addresses associated with STAs of the AP MLD thatcommunicate over the wireless network.

At step 810, a password element is generated using a preconfiguredpassword in combination with any of the MAC addresses of the AP MLDincluded in the probe response frame transmitted in step 805.

At step 815, authentication is performed between the AP MLD and the STAMLD using the password element generated in step 810. According to someembodiments, the AP MLD and STA MLD perform authentication over adifferent wireless link than was used to transmit the probe responseframe in step 810. According to some embodiments, the AP MLD and STA MLDperform authentication over multiple wireless links in step 815.

At step 820, the STA MLD optionally associates with the AP MLD accordingto the authentication performed in step 815. According to someembodiments, an MIC (integrity protection) of the probe response framecan be verified by the STA MLD after associating with the AP MLD in step820.

At step 825, the STA MLD receives a key used to generate the MICintegrity protection of the probe response frame from the AP MLD.

At step 830, the STA MLD verifies the MIC of the beacon or proberesponse frame using the key. If the MIC cannot be verified using thekey, the STA MLD ends the association with the AP MDL.

Exemplary Computer Controlled System

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary wireless device 900 upon which embodimentsof the present invention can be implemented. Embodiments of the presentinvention are drawn to electronic systems capable of transmitting orreceiving beacon frames and probe response frames that include MACaddresses of an MLD operating on multiple links in a wireless network.For example, the beacon frames and probe response frames can include anMLD MAC address that uniquely identifies an AP MLD in a wirelessnetwork, and can optionally include one or more WM MAC addresses of STAsof the AP MLD. The MAC addresses can be used to by wireless devices(e.g., STA MLDs) and can be used to generate a password element usedduring authentication between wireless devices to connect to andassociate with the AP MLD.

The wireless device 900 includes a processor 905 for running softwareapplications and optionally an operating system. Memory 910 can includeread-only memory and/or random access memory, for example, to storeapplications and data for use by the processor 905 and data received ortransmitted by transceivers 920, 925, and 930. The wireless device 900can include fewer or more transceivers according to some embodiments.The transceivers 920, 925, 930 communicate with other electronic devicesover a wireless network (e.g., WLAN) and typically operates according toIEEE standards (e.g., IEEE 902.11ax, IEEE 902.11ay, IEEE 902.11be,etc.).

Embodiments of the present invention are thus described. While thepresent invention has been described in particular embodiments, itshould be appreciated that the present invention should not be construedas limited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of discovering a multi-link device (MLD)on a wireless network, the method comprising: transmitting a beaconframe for receipt by a wireless station (STA) MLD, wherein the beaconframe comprises a MAC address of an AP MLD on the wireless network,wherein the AP MLD comprises a plurality of STAs operating on aplurality of wireless links and associated with a plurality of wirelessmedium (WM) MAC addresses; generating a password element using apreconfigured password and at least one WM MAC address of the pluralityof STAs of the AP MLD; and performing authentication between the AP MLDand the STA MLD using the password element.
 2. The method as describedin claim 1, wherein the AP MLD comprises a first transceiver operatingon a first wireless link and a second transceiver operating on a secondwireless link, and wherein further the transmitting a beacon frame forreceipt by a wireless station STA MLD is performed over the firstwireless link and the performing authentication between the AP MLD andthe STA MLD is performed over the second wireless link.
 3. The method asdescribed in claim 1, further comprising associating together the AP MLDand the STA MLD according to the authenticating.
 4. The method asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the beacon frame comprises messageintegrity check (MIC) integrity protection, and further comprising:associating together the AP MLD with the MAC addresses of the AP MLD;and subsequent to the associating, transmitting a key used to generatethe MIC integrity protection to the STA MLD.
 5. The method as describedin claim 1, wherein the AP MLD comprises a plurality of transceiversoperating on a plurality of wireless links, and further comprisingtransmitting a plurality of beacon frames comprising the MAC address ofthe AP MLD over the plurality of wireless links.
 6. The method asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the MAC address of the AP MLD is an MLDMAC address of the AP MLD that identifies the AP MLD in the wirelessnetwork.
 7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the AP MLDcomprises a plurality of STAs operating on a plurality of wirelesslinks, and wherein the beacon frame comprises a plurality of WM MACaddresses for the plurality of STAs of the AP MLD.
 8. The method asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the MAC address of the AP MLD is an MLDMAC address that identifies the AP MLD in the wireless network, andwherein the generating a password element is performed using the MACaddress of the AP MLD in combination with an MLD MAC address of the STAMLD.
 9. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the MAC address ofthe AP MLD is an MLD MAC address that identifies the AP MLD in thewireless network, and wherein the generating a password element isperformed using the MAC address of the AP MLD in combination with a WMMAC address of an STA of the STA MLD.
 10. The method as described inclaim 1, wherein the MAC address of the AP MLD is a WM MAC address of anSTA of the AP MLD, and wherein the generating a password element isperformed using the MAC address of the AP MLD in combination with a WMMAC address of an STA of the STA MLD.
 11. A method of authenticating amulti-link device (MLD) on a wireless network at an access point (AP)MLD, the method comprising: generating a password element using: apreconfigured password; a MAC address of a wireless station (STA) MLD;and a wireless medium (WM) MAC address of an STA of the AP MLD, whereinthe AP MLD comprises a plurality of STAs operating on a plurality ofwireless links; and performing authentication between the AP MLD and theSTA MLD using the password element.
 12. The method as described in claim11, wherein the AP MLD comprises a first transceiver operating on afirst wireless link and a second transceiver operating on a secondwireless link, and wherein the performing authentication between the APMLD and the STA MLD is performed over the second wireless link.
 13. Themethod as described in claim 11, further comprising associating togetherthe AP MLD with the STA MLD according to the authenticating.
 14. Themethod as described in claim 11, wherein the performing authenticationbetween the AP MLD and the STA MLD comprises at least one of: the STAMLD transmitting a commit message of an authentication sequence; and theAP MLD transmitting a confirm message of the authentication sequence.15. The method as described in claim 11, wherein the MAC address of theAP MLD is an MLD MAC address of the AP MLD that uniquely identifies theAP MLD in the wireless network.
 16. The method as described in claim 11,wherein the beacon frame comprises a plurality of WM MAC addresses ofthe plurality of STAs of the AP MLD, and wherein the generating apassword element is performed using at least one of the WM MAC addressesof the plurality of STAs of the AP MLD.
 17. The method as described inclaim 11, wherein the MAC address of the AP MLD is an MLD MAC addressthat uniquely identifies the AP MLD in the wireless network, and whereinthe generating a password element is performed using the MAC address ofthe AP MLD in combination with an MLD MAC address of the STA MLD. 18.The method as described in claim 11, wherein the MAC address of the APMLD is an MLD MAC address that uniquely identifies the AP MLD in thewireless network, and wherein the generating a password element isperformed using the MAC address of the AP MLD in combination with a WMMAC address of an STA of the STA MLD.
 19. The method as described inclaim 11, wherein the MAC address of the AP MLD is a WM MAC address ofan STA of the AP MLD, and wherein the generating a password element isperformed using the MAC address of the AP MLD in combination with a WMMAC address of an STA of the STA MLD.
 20. A wireless access point (AP)multi-link device (MLD) comprising: a first transceiver operating on afirst wireless link; a second transceiver operating on a second wirelesslink; a memory for storing data; and a processor operable to: cause thefirst transceiver to transmit a beacon frame for receipt by a wirelessstation (STA) MLD, wherein the beacon frame comprises an MLD MAC addressof the AP MLD, wherein the AP MLD comprises a plurality of STAsoperating on a plurality of wireless links and associated with aplurality of wireless medium (WM) MAC addresses; generate a passwordelement using a preconfigured password and at least one WM MAC addressof the plurality of STAs of the MLD MAC address of the AP MLD; andperform authentication between the AP MLD and the STA over the secondwireless link using the password element.